Two weeks till we get married
David and I are getting married - well CEE PEEd as David calls it. As I am British and David is Australian, we can legally get Civil Partnershipped in the UK. For us that bit of the UK is the Brisitsh Consulate in Sydney.
For those of you who dont know, this is what it means.
Civil Partnerships
1. What is a civil partnership?
Civil partnership is a new legal relationship for lesbian and gay couples, aged 16 and over. It will give lesbian and gay couples the same legal benefits as heterosexual married couples, just like a registry office wedding.
2. When did the new law come into effect?
The Civil Partnership Act came into effect on 5th December 2005. Registrars have to be given 15 days’ notification, so the first civil partnership ceremonies can now take place.
3. Are civil partnerships available throughout the UK?
The Civil Partnership Act applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
4. What rights do we get?
Same sex couples who register their partnership will gain access to a number of legal rights. These include rights to survivor pensions, recognition for immigration purposes, equal treatment for tax purposes, including inheritance tax, protection from domestic violence.
5. What about responsibilities for children?
If you register your partnership you will be able to gain responsibility for each other’s children, and will have a duty to provide reasonable maintenance for your partner and any children of the family.
6. What about pensions?
As for widowers, civil partners will be able to access survivor pensions in public service schemes and contracted-out pension schemes from 1988.
7. What about taxes?
Civil partners will be treated in the same way as spouses for tax purposes. For further information, visit, www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk.
8. What about benefits?
If you form a civil partnership, you will be treated jointly for income-related benefits.
9. What will happen if my partner dies?
If one of you dies after you have registered your partnership, the surviving partner will automatically inherit their partner’s estate if there is no will. They will have the right to register the death of their partner and will be eligible for bereavement benefits. They will also have the right to claim a survivor pension will have tenancy succession rights and will be able to claim compensation for fatal accidents or criminal injuries. They will also be recognised under inheritance tax rules.
10. Do we need to be living together in order to register our partnership?
No.
11. How much will it cost to register our partnership?
There will be statutory fees to pay the registrar.
12. How do we register our partnership?
You will need to go to the registration service to give formal notice in person of your intention to register your partnership. You will be able to register 15 days after giving this notice, during which time the registration service will check your eligibility. Following this, you will form your civil partnership by signing a document in the presence of a registration officer and two witnesses.
13. Where can we register our partnership?
You can register your partnership in any premises licensed to carry out registrations, not just a registry office.
14. Can we register our partnership anywhere in the UK?
Couples will be able to form their civil partnership in licensed premises anywhere in the UK. However, you will still have to notify your local authority of your intention to register your partnership - they will need to know the details of when and where you are going to register.
15. What will we be called after we register our partnership?
Legally you will be ‘civil partners’. There is no provision in the act to enable you to automatically take your partner’s surname, so if you wish to do this, you will need to make arrangements to change by deed poll.
Written by TechStickle on May 30th, 2007 with
6 comments.
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jerry
#1. May 31st, 2007, at 9:36 AM.
Congrats! Australia still has some catching up to do but it’s years ahead of the US.